Campbell Sweeps Alberta Starlet
Driver Brandon Campbell swept both $27,700 Alberta Sires Stakes divisions featured at Alberta Downs on Saturday afternoon with undefeated two-year-old pacing filly Nighttraintovegas and Triple Action.
A total of 10 fillies were scratched sick from their first ABSS event of the season, the Alberta Starlet, leaving short fields in both splits.
Nighttraintovegas wired a field of five to earn her third straight pari-mutuel win in a career-best 1:56.4. After leaving from the inside post position, she carved out fractions of :28.4, :59.1 and 1:28.4 with Make Three Wishes (Keith Clark) chasing her to the wire and finishing nearly three lengths behind. Blue Star Escape (Kelly Hoerdt) finished third.
The Camystic-Midnight In Vegas filly, who also won a division of the Emerald Filly Stakes on July 27, was bred by trainer Richard Schneider and owners Dick Schneider of Sherwood Park and David Halmosi of Edmonton.
Triple Action swept from last to first around the final turn in a three-horse field to win her division in 1:57.2. Despite bearing out in the stretch, she won by seven lengths. Blue Monday (Connie Kolthammer) finished second after leading through fractions of :29.2, :59 and 1:27.4. R Js Diamond (Tyler Redwood) was a distant third.
Joe Ratchford trains the Brandons Cowboy-The Three Of Us filly, who was making her second pari-mutuel start after finishing second in the Emerald Filly Stakes. The $3,500 ASHA Yearling Sale purchase is owned by Raggs To Riches of Aidrie.
The stakes wins concluded a driving grand slam for Campbell, who also won back-to-back races earlier in the day with his own trainees Remarkable Cam and Howdidchado.
The ABSS two-year-old pacing fillies will compete in the next Alberta Starburst leg on Saturday, September 7 at Alberta Downs.
To view Saturday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Saturday Results - Alberta Downs.